USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1908-1910 > Part 23
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H. GERTRUDE LEE, Librarian.
Wakefield, Mass., January 1, 1910.
170
Report of Cemetery Commissioners
The Cemetery Commissioners herewith respectfully submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1909 :
We recommend that the town give us Seventy-five dollars ($75) to clean up and take care of the Old Cemetery the coming year.
We recommend that the town give us the income of the Forest Glade Cemetery the coming year, and One hundred and fifty dol- lars ($150) to lay out Section A.
OLIVER WALTON, HOYT B. PARKER, E. S. OLIVER, Secretary, Cemetery Commissioners.
171
Report of the Board of Health.
WAKEFIELD, MASS., January 1, 1910.
The Board of Health herewith submits its annual report. The number of contagious diseases reported to the Board the past year are as follows :
Typhoid fever
9
Measles .
112
Scarlet fever
8
Diphtheria
18
Tuberculosis
7
Whooping cough
1
Chicken pox
1
Ferrecilla
2
NUISANCES ABATED AND OTHER DETAILS.
Dumping offal
16
Unsanitary cow barns ordered cleaned
9
Permission to board state children
1
Overflowing privy vaults .
24
Offensive and defective water closets
11
Overflowing cesspools and catch basins
29
Leaking traps
2
Defective drains
.
8
Filthy yards ordered cleaned
5
Unsanitary cow yards
4
Wet cellars
2
Filthy hen coops
2
Swill wagons ordered repaired .
3
Hog pens complained of and ordered cleaned
3
Dead animals disposed of
10
.
.
.
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·
.
.
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·
JOSEPH W. HEATH, M. D., Chairman. AUGUSTUS D. JENKINS, Secretary. JOHN M. CATE, Health Officer.
172
Report of the Inspector of Plumbing.
TO THIE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF HEALTH .:
Gentlemen : - The work in the Plumbing Department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1909, was as follows :
Applications filed . 99
Applications left over 1908
4
Applications left over 1909
4
Inspections and calls made
324
Investigations
-17
Number of fixtures set
409
Water closets set
103
Bath tubs set
69
Bowls set .
73
Sinks set
80
Wash trays set
69
Butler sinks set
1
Alterations
14
Surface drains
1
Sewer connections .
26
Cesspools
36
Several inspections have been made at the request of the Board and defects remedied.
Thanking the Secretary, the Board, my craft and the citizens at large for their kind co-operation, I am,
Respectfully,
GREENLEAF S. TUKEY, Plumbing Inspector. .Jan. 1st, 1910.
173
Report of the Inspector of Milk.
TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH :
Gentlemen : - I herewith present my report as Inspector of Milk for the year ending Dec. 31, 1909. During the year I have collected from stores, wagons, dairies, etc., one hundred and forty- five samples, and upon analysis they show the following result :
Solids, less fat
9.076
Butter fat
3.854
Total solids 12.930 plus
Two complaints have been made in court during the year. One was discharged on a technicality, the other was withdrawn.
Respectfully submitted,
H. A. SIMONDS, Inspector of Milk. Jan. 1st, 1910.
174
Thirty-fifth Annual Report of the Fish Committee
The season of 1909 opened auspiciously May 30th and closed November 1st. A few reports of catches will be of interest :
AT ROSSON'S BOAT-HOUSE
Bass
34
Eels
2,420
Perch
8,750
Pickerel .
3,670
Pout
458
White perch
4
Total
15,336
AT WILEY'S BOAT-HOUSE
Bass
53
Eels
1,758
Perch
9,224
Pickerel .
7,482
Pout
642
White perchi
18
Total
19,177
Total from Rosson's boat-house
15,336
Total from Wiley's boat-house
19,177
Grand total
34,513
NOTES
Fishing has been on the decrease this last season as you can see by this report. The Committee think that if all other fishermen
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175
had made their reports the number of fish caught would have been larger than last year.
Mr. J C. Hartshorne caught the largest pickerel of Wakefield, weighing 5 pounds. His report is as follows ;
Bass 1 weight 1₺ pounds.
Eels 3 weight 2 pounds.
Perch
two of which together weighed 1 } pounds.
(12 in. and 14 in. long
Pickerel 85 weighing from 4 oz. to 5 pounds.
Total 104
He also caught in Crystal lake, fishing from the west shore, at various times :
Bass 4 weighing 2} to 3 pounds each.
Perch 4 quite large
Pickerel 6 weight ¿ pound to 2 pounds.
Total, 14
Report from Robbie Fitz, son of Judge Fitz, of Main Street :
Pickerel 31 weight 1 to 24 pounds.
Perch 40 weight 1 pound.
Eels
3
Total, 74
Mr. William Arnold of Wakefield caught a bass weighing 5 pounds.
Largest fish a 5 pound pickerel, caught by Ben White of Reading. A 4 pound eel by Mr. Foster of Reading.
Mr. Samuel Parker caught about 56 pickerel weighing from ¿ to 2 pounds.
OUR GAME PRESERVES
Ducks scarce ; a few coot and black ducks have been shot.
Two geese have been shot-one by Frank Heath of Wakefield, the other by Abraham Levine of Wakefield.
176
Game in the woods more plenty ; partridges, quails, gray squir- rels, pheasants and deer more plenty.
One deer was seen on Main street in front of Warren Poland's at 2 a. m.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL PARKER,
Chairman. WILL H. WILEY, J. FRANK WHITING
Compiled and written at Wakefield, Mass., Jan. 5, 1910.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1909
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1909-1910.
Dr. C. E. Montague, Ch'n., 26 Chestnut St., Term expires 1911 Mrs. Ida Farr Miller, Sec., 18 Lawrence St.
Ashton H. Thayer, Treas., 25 Yale Ave. Miss Eliza M. Greenwood, 10 Lafayette St. H. Lee M. Pike, Spring St., Greenwood A. H. Boardman, 56 Pleasant St.
1912
60
66 1910
66
66 1910
66
66 1912
66
66 1910
178
SUB -- COMMITTEES.
:
Mr. Thayer
PUBLIC PROPERTY- Mr. Boardman
Dr. Montague
Dr. Montague
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS. Mr. Boardman Mr. Pike
:
Mr. Boardman
TEACHERS AND SALARIES. Mr. Thayer Miss Greenwood
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES. Mrs. Miller Dr. Montague
Miss Greenwood
COURSE OF STUDY.
Mrs. Miller
Mr. Pike Mr. Thayer |
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. J. H. Carfrey, 126 West Chestnut St.
OFFICE HOURS.
Mondays, 7 to 8 p. m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 8.45 a. m. Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5.30 p. m.
Office, Flanley Block.
Telephones-Office, 225-3. Residence, 368-2.
Lucy A. Noyes, Clerk. Hours 8 to 12 and 1.30 to 5 on School Days.
REGULAR MEETINGS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Second and Fourth Fridays of each month at 8 p. m., at Com- mittee Rooms, Flanley Block.
:
179
Report of the School Committee.
School problems demand consideration from the educational and from the economic standpoint. In Wakefield the latter is pressing more and more to the front. A study of the reports of the State Board of Education shows that our expenditures for schools per thousand of the valuation are increasing faster than the expenditures per pupil. For example : taking the last seven years available, the expense per pupil has increased not quite nine per cent., while the increase per thousand of the valuation is almost twenty-seven per cent. During these seven years no sub- stantial change has been made in the curriculum, and the only definite change in the budget was the increase of salaries for teachers voted by the town, which accounts for about two-thirds of the increased cost per pupil. This much, then, seems evident, that the children of school age are increasing faster than the tax- able property. Such a situation demands the most careful atten- tion and the most rigid economy in the administration of school matters. It precludes the undertaking of many things which our neighbors in better financial conditions can do easily, and holds us pretty closely to those lines of education which have been tested and found good. But this same condition places increased respon- sibility also upon those directing the educational forces of our town. For children properly educated are the best asset of a community, and an increasing number of children with relatively decreasing property valuation is preferable to the opposite, but to the degree that children are an asset, so much the greater is the * need of giving them the best possible education and equipment, for selfish reasons if for no other. It then becomes a problem not only whether the Town can afford to do certain things for education, but can it afford NOT to do them. There are certain changes pending in the public school system. The most heralded
at present is the so called vocational or industrial training.
Whether we can afford to establish it in our schools or can not
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180
afford to pass it by is at present undecided. It is a matter that should be carefully considered, and decided after the experimental details have been worked out by those better able to stand the financial burden. It is a matter in which our Superintendent is deeply interested and of which he has made a careful study. We commend to your consideration his report on this matter. It seems that our school population is a legitimate field for this sort of training.
SCHOOL PROPERTY.
The usual amount of repairs have been made, and there is no large problem presenting itself except the heating and the plumb- ing in the Hamilton School. The furnaces are worn out and it is only by continual patching that they are usable. There is no modern plumbing. Two years ago this matter was brought up in town meeting and the question was raised of moving the building on account of adjacent conditions. This was referred to the Selectmen and School Committee jointly and they reported that it was not advisable to move the building, and that the heating and plumbing should be installed at the same time. This ought to be done this year.
€
MALE PRINCIPALS.
For several years the feeling has been gaining ground that as vacancies occurred men should be substituted for women as prin- cipals of the larger buildings. This has arisen not from any dissatisfaction with the present incumbents, but as the expression of a well defined and generally accepted statement of fact that men are more successful than women in dealing with adolescence, particularly boys. The first vacancy to occur was at Greenwood and a man has been engaged as principal of that building. This again raises the question of salary, for it is necessary to pay slightly more for a male than for a female principal. It is not a question of worth, or whether a woman should have as much pay as a man for the same work, but it is simply a question of demand and supply.
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181
WRITING.
Several years ago vertical writing was adopted and has been taught consistently. This was generally adopted throughout the State at the time. Latterly there has been a general trend toward some medial slant system, and this has replaced the vertical in most cities and towns. Last year a careful study of the various systems in use was undertaken by the Superintendent. Specimens of writing from the various grades in towns where the leading sys- tems are in use were obtained for inspection. Speed tests were made. After careful consideration the " Whitehouse System " was adopted and is now in use. We hope for a material improve- ment in appearance, legibility and speed of writing.
In November Miss Clara E. Emerson submitted her resignation. She had been a teacher in Wakefield since 1879 and has measured up to the full standard of teacher and friend to a generation. Our regret is that we are unable to give such teachers a pension when they retire.
We ask the co-operation of parents and all interested in the schools, and particularly invite parents to become acquainted with teachers and visit schools frequently.
APPROPRIATIONS ,
We recommend appropriations as follows :
Salaries
. $49,727 80
Fuel
4,800 00
Contingent
2,800 00
Books and supplies
3,000 00
Evening School
800 00
.
·
.
$61,127 80
and that the tuition to the estimated amount of $2,000 be added to the appropriation.
The salary list and the detailed statement of Contingent ex- penses and of Books and Supplies appears in the Auditors' Report
182
on pages 127 to 135, also the expenditures for the evening school, the tuition account and list of unpaid bills.
Signed,
CHARLES E. MONTAGUE, M. D., Chairman, MRS. IDA FARR MILLER, Secretary, ASHTON H. THAYER, Treasurer, MISS ELIZA M. GREENWOOD, H. LEE M. PIKE, A. H. BOARDMAN.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
I hereby submit my fifth annual report. In submitting this report there is likely to be a general similarity from year to year, and the public may feel that about the same things will be mentioned. However, this same public ought to welcome a report of school conditions, and recommendations which mean progress and efficiency for the school system. I am of the opinion that every community wants the best schools, and the most done for the pupils which will make them efficient men and women.
We might speak of school accommodations, since every year we are obliged to mention more or less crowded conditions. These crowded conditions remain and will continue until the taxpayers fully realize that inefficiency in school work is the inevitable result of overcrowded buildings. We are expected to turn out a certain product and it is right and proper that such results should be expected, but without proper equipment we can not be held responsible for results. With double grades in rooms where one grade ought to be; with 48 to 54 pupils in grades where there should be not more than 35 to 40 ; with over 30 pupils to a class in the High School where no greater number than 25 should be, and added to this a general shifting about in every conceivable manner to accommodate even these, it really follows that our
183
accommodations are inadequate. It seems to me that the average citizen does not fully realize the true conditions under which the school work is being done. The Town has been willing to grant quite liberal appropriations for school purposes, yet to bring these appropriations within what appears to the public a reasonable cost it is necessary every year to cut out many essentials that are needed.
EQUIPMENT FOR EFFICIENCY, OR, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
There are other equipments than school accommodations for housing pupils. Efficiency, or the fullest development of each individual pupil is also a matter of deepest concern. It is true that education may be defined as the development of character and the training for good citizenship, but education means more than this. It may mean "preparation for complete living," "the organization of experiences that shall serve to modify and render more efficient man's adjustment to his environments ;" or, "the preparation for life's worthy interests and activities through par- ticipation in them." It may mean any and all of these ; in fact, all converge to the same end-the complete development of the individual that he may be able to participate in life's activities. From this point of view what shall we say as to our equipment ? Have we the facilities for developing the individual that he may be not only a good citizen but also a useful citizen and one who is able to adjust himself to his environments and to take some part in life's activities ?
I believe the time has come when every community should give to all boys and girls the opportunity, to a greater or less degree, of vocational training. It is a fact, that many boys and girls tired of the study of books leave school at the age of fourteen and ap- ply for work in our factories and mercantile establishments and who are wholly unfit to assume responsibility of any kind, and know nothing of work. These factories and mercantile establish- ments say they do not want these same boys and girls, and they are therefore agreed in the opinion that these young people should remain in school a longer time-at any rate until they are sixteen years of age. The parents, however, feel the need of the wages
184
that may be earned by these boys and girls, but the money they may be able to earn, is very little. Employers say that, should these pupils remain in school until sixteen the development would insure a greater capacity for earning ; when asked what instruction is of most value, answer,-vocational instruction. This suggestion is not made on the basis of money getting, but rather on the basis of efficiency. The boy at fourteen is undevel- oped mentally and physicially, yet many of them have lost interest in books and in school generally. They have no aim ; they drift first into one thing and then into another and after two or three years, many have lost all desire for steady employment. This is evidence, then, that at the age of fourteen provision should be made for teaching vocations. It gives an added interest to school life. It places before the pupil the possibility of getting something which will be of real value to him.
At the age of fourteen our school curriculum may well be diver- gent. There are three lines of development which may be fol- lowed. First,-the class of pupils who are naturally inclined to pursue the study of literature, mathematics, and the classics, which carries them forward to a preparation for the professions ; a second class is inclined toward the study of commercial branches which leads into commercial pursuits ; a third class, by no means weaker in mental ability than the first class nor any the less sus- ceptible to culture, tends towards the arts and sciences, vocations, trades. We should give equal opportunity to the one class as to the other. Equip the schools with facilities for work with ma- chines ; learn weaving, chair making, metal working, making of shoes, rattan products ; carpentry, dressmaking, millinery, cook- ing, sewing, mechanical and free hand drawing. At present we have courses in our High School leading to the classics and the commercial pursuits. It is evident to one who has observed the work of different pupils in the High School, that many who have not seemed interested and who leave, might have been kept in school had there been an opportunity to devote a part of the time to vocational training. This vocational training pursued in the schools is not, as thought by some, the only work to be done by these pupils. A portion of the time is to be devoted to academic training in the following subjects : English, Mathematics, History,
185
Physiology, Civics, Spelling, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, and' possibly a modern language.
Vocational training is not a new thing The newness about it- is the fact that it is to be applied in a different manner than here- tofore. The State has come to see that her existence cannot de -- pend upon a few. We have not questioned the advisability of training lawyers, physicians, ministers-all vocational, and the State itself has assumed to educate and train teachers which is vocational. Self protection and the possibility of holding her- position in the commercial world has led the State also to recom -- mend and to encourage by statute, the establishment of vocational schools. It would be unwise for any community to educate its boys and girls or any particular number of them for mere indus -. trial pursuits. This would create caste, the thing which American citizens wish of all others to avoid. No system of education can: afford to teach for vocational pursuits alone ; neither can any system afford to give pure intellectual training alone. It is the combination of the two in proportion to make for the greatest. efficiency, that every pupil will have opportunity to develop his latent powers, and at the same time to give culture, develop char -- acter and train for citizenship.
The Massachusetts Commissioner of Education, Dr. Snedden,. says in a recent article in the Educational Review. "It is well known, for example, that large numbers of boys, from twelve to. fifteen years of age take little interest in their school studies, while their vocational interests are strong. The number of such. children who now leave school at the earliest possible moment is disconcertingly large. But under present conditions their liberal education abruptly ceases when they withdraw from school, but too frequently the character of the industrial pursuits which they enter is such, owing to long hours, highly specialized labor, and unfavorable surroundings, as to deprive them of incentives to pre- serve and develop the little cultural training they have received. But if the public schools could provide for this class in the later years of their school work, opportunities for vocational experi- ence and training while still reserving a portion of time for the most vital cultural and civic teaching that could be derived, there can be hardly any doubt but that large numbers of such youth
186
would make a far more effectual adjustment to the conditions of modern life than is now the case "
Dean Russell of the Teachers' College, Columbia University, N. Y., says in a recent article. "There is a concession of opinion that specialization should not begin before the twelfth or thir- teenth year of age. Some would defer it two years or more. With six years of good fundamental training, the child is ready at thirteen or fourteen to look forward to his life work. For those who go to college it is time to begin specialization along academic lines ; for those who are to become artisans or tradesmen, as soon as possible, it is time to begin vocational training. Specialization at the age of fourteen years should begin gradually, and in the vocational lines it should be essentially preparatory to the later years of trade school or apprentice training.
My point is, that when the boy or girl hears the call of voca- tional life, specialization should begin and gradually narrow into technical training for specific occupations."
It might be well to add some examples by way of illustration as to what is being done in different places. It has been my privilege to investigate the subject quite thoroughly during the past year or more, and some of the schools already established, both private and public, may be of interest. In our own state the most recent established are those at Lawrence, Beverly, Fitchburg, New Bedford, Northampton and Montague.
At Lawrence the school is under the direction of the city and the state, and is supported by the city, the state, and by private funds. The school department has no control or direction, al- though the principal consults freely and often with the Superin- tendent of Schools with respect to the management and the work. The work is confined largely to the study of manufactured articles in the textiles, tracing the raw material through the various ma- chines performing and each part until the finished product is pro- duced. In addition to this there is a thorough course in electric- ity and its application. For the girls there are courses in sewing and cooking. There is no particular trade taught to any of the pupils, but the entire process and the handling of the machines is taught to all alike. These pupils are taken only after they have reached fourteen years of age and have finished a certain amount
187
of work in the public schools. Part of the time is devoted to the machine while the remainder is devoted to academic subjects -all pertaining to industrial work.
At Beverly the arrangement has been made with the United Shoe Machinery Company whereby boys, having become fourteen years of age, and having finished a portion of the Grammar School course, are given opportunity to work in the shop for remuner- ation during one week, while the next week is devoted to academic subjects in the High School. These subjects - English, Mathe- matics, History, Physics, etc., are taken, each specifically appli- cable to industrial and commercial pursuits. The same person teaching in the school instructs the same set of boys at the shop, thus giving to them the equality of supervision in both places. Here the School Department has supervision of the work, cooper- ating with the factory in joint responsibility.
At Fitchburg, the boys are divided into relays of ten, one week being devoted entirely to academic instruction in the High School, the next week giving the whole time to shop work in one of the large machine shops, where they receive a nominal wage. In both Beverly and Fitchburg the attempt is not to teach a trade but to make efficient apprentices who will soon become able to take charge of a machine and earn a living wage. In Lawrence the object is to fit boys to enter the factories, begin at the bottom and, because of the previous training received, will more rapidly advance and become efficient all round workmen. From these ranks will be developed intelligent workmen who can turn their hands to any part of the business, and all things being equal be- come foremen and superintendents. The plan at New Bedford is similar to that at Lawrence, except that it is under the School Department. Both are purely vocational.
At Montague the work is purely agricultural, and of High School grade, thus developing intelligent and thoroughly equipped and scientific agriculturalists.
At Gloversville, N. Y., there has been organized, in connec- tion with the public schools, a plan for the making of gloves, an industry in which that town is particularly interested. The plan is not to teach any particular part of glove making, but to give a knowledge of the whole process. It is more an apprentice
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